Contact us or visit our Kraków office at ul. Cystersów 9
Contact us or visit our Kraków office at ul. Cystersów 9
Knowledge should be accessible to everyone – regardless of the background of the recipient. This idea has led to the development of different ways of translating speech (not just text!) into other languages. One of these is consecutive interpreting. As the name suggests, it involves interpreting a speech after the speaker has finished speaking. The interpreter stands or sits next to the speaker and quickly takes notes in order to convey every detail of the speech as accurately as possible. Consecutive interpreting does not involve translating the entire speech after it has been delivered, nor does it involve speaking simultaneously with the speaker. In order to translate effectively and maintain the interest of all the listeners, the speaker pauses from time to time – every few, a dozen or sometimes even more sentences. The pauses must be frequent and long enough for the interpreter to be able to convey everything that has been said so far. This ensures that the audience understands the speaker’s speech exactly as he or she intended.
People who specialise in consecutive interpreting need to have an excellent knowledge of both languages. It also requires skills such as a good memory, the ability to concentrate, work efficiently under pressure and take clear and valuable notes quickly. Consecutive interpreters often use mental shortcuts, key words or symbols – all in order to best convey the speaker’s message in the target language. This is particularly important when translating a large number of sentences at once. Speakers can divide their speeches into shorter or longer sections according to their preferences and those of the consecutive interpreter. Counterintuitively, longer sections may be easier to translate into another language. They allow a better understanding (and rendering) of the meaning of the speech rather than focusing on sentences taken out of context. In most cases, it is possible to shorten the original into a more concise form, provided the message is not lost. Transcripts and memory are useful for this – they allow the speaker’s utterance to be reconstructed in a coherent, logical and aesthetically pleasing way.
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This type of interpreting is very dynamic and demanding for the interpreter. It is difficult to prepare for it in advance, which is why interpreters with specialisation and experience in a particular field are usually selected. Consecutive interpreting is most often used during business meetings, lectures, training sessions, press conferences, speeches, etc., where the target audience is one person or a relatively small group. It makes little difference whether the meeting is live or online; a consecutive interpreter will also do a good job during a meeting on a platform such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom. However, with a larger group, the nature and dynamics of the event do not always allow for pauses during the speech. Consecutive interpreting does not work well at large international events, very formal meetings or on television, for example. Why not? This type of interpreting requires almost doubling the length of the event, which can be disruptive to the organisation. Consecutive interpreting is preferably used for a single target language.
What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting? Unlike simultaneous interpreting, this type of interpreting is more like a conversation. As the name suggests, there are no pauses in simultaneous interpreting – the interpreter listens to the speaker and simultaneously translates his or her speech to the audience. In this respect, consecutive interpreting is considered to be less demanding, as it allows at least a minimum amount of time to prepare the translation and collect one’s thoughts. It also allows for a better quality of translation – more polished sentences, adapted to the logic and nature of the source text. In simultaneous interpreting, rapid reaction and uninterrupted communication are more important. If the source and target languages are very far apart and the interpreter is not familiar with the speaker’s general idea, this can lead to some difficulties and inaccuracies. On the other hand, a major disadvantage of consecutive interpreting is that pauses for translation add considerably to the meeting time.
Human communication is not just about exchanging sentences. It is also about gestures, posture, humour, the character and background of the speaker as well as the cultural and professional context. These are by no means universal issues – they vary from country to country and even city to city. Reading and understanding non-verbal or indirect messages often determines how the speech is received by the audience. Translating them into the target language requires a perfect knowledge of the source language, but also of the culture and customs of its speakers. At Alingua, we only work with experienced interpreters who understand these nuances. In addition to their knowledge and skills, we value their resistance to stress, creativity and ability to adapt quickly, respond effectively to unexpected situations and interact with people. They are all experienced and proven interpreters who are always able to convey any message without losing its meaning.
To ensure the highest quality and security for our clients, all assignments at Alingua are carried out in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 27001. If you would like to start working with us, the first step is to contact us and describe your requirements. We will respond within 15 minutes with a quotation that best suits your job. Our quotes are always bespoke – we know that every interpreting assignment is different. After discussing all the details with you, we will select the best interpreter for you, taking into account the language pair, specialisation and venue of your planned event. Feel free to contact us using the enquiry form or by email.
ISO 9001ISO 9001 certification provides evidence that Alingua applies certified procedures to ensure consistent high quality of its translation services.
ISO 27001Information security system at Alingua is consistent with the provisions of the ISO 27001 standard and all our cooperation agreements signed with translators contain a confidentiality clause.
90 languagesWith 15 years of experience working with texts from all over the world, you can be assured of language support no matter your needs.
Sample translationsIn the case of larger projects, clients can request a sample of text translated by several different translators in order to choose a style most suited to their expectations.
Customer satisfactionIn-house statistics from the last two years show customer satisfaction at 99.7%.
Professional liability insurance coverYour translations are protected by an insurance cover of up to PLN 300,000.
MembershipThe Alingua Translation Agency is a member of a number of industry-specific organisations which aim to maintain the highest quality of translation services in the world of advancing technology and growing expectations.
Foundation1% of the value of our projects is donated to Alingua Helpful Word Foundation (Fundacja Alingua Pomocne Słowo). Each submitted order helps those in need.
